Recent changes to Swiss laws regarding animal welfare were not confined to live lobster boiling. Dogs were also considered. Illegal dog trading in Switzerland will soon be easier to spot. Dog sellers must list their address, the dog’s place of origin and where it grew up, in adverts. And more information will be required for the government’s central dog […]
Switzerland bans boiling lobsters alive
Last week, Switzerland’s Federal Council adopted new rules to improve the treatment of lobsters, part of a general revamp of rules on the treatment of animals. Lobsters and other crustaceous animals can no longer be transported on ice or in icy water in Switzerland. Instead they must be kept in a natural environment. In addition, […]
Swiss fact: nearly 50% of Swiss GDP comes from 4 cantons
Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons – technically six are half cantons1 – each with its own distinct taxes, education system, hospitals and government. Land area varies significantly, from 37 sq/km Basel-Stadt to 7,105 sq/km Graubünden. Population is also highly varied, from tiny Appenzell Innerrhoden (16k) up to Zurich with nearly 1.5 million. Unsurprisingly, […]
Swiss immigration down to level when doors opened to EU
In 2017, net migration of foreigners to Switzerland fell for the fourth year running to 53k, according to the State Migrations Secretariat (SEM). This net figure was 12% lower than in 2016 and similar to the number in 2002 when Switzerland opened its doors to citizens of EU and EFTA nations. In 2017, 148k foreigners moved […]
Swiss franc could hit 1.22 by year end, according to economists
According to Le Matin, economists at Swiss Life think the rise of the Swiss franc could be over and predict it will weaken to 1.22 to the euro by the end of the year. At the same time they point to risks that could send the currency in the opposite direction, such as the election in […]
The number of people on welfare continues to rise in Switzerland
In 2016, around 273,000 people, 3.3% of the population, received welfare in Switzerland. The number (not the rate) was 2.9% higher than the year before and 15.7% higher than 5 years earlier when the rate was 3.0%. Rates of those receiving government aid varied significantly by canton, ranging from 0.8% in Appenzell Innerrhoden to 7.4% […]
Three quarters of Swiss voters favour burqa ban, suggests poll
A recent online poll run on behalf of the newspapers Le Matin Dimanche and SonntagsZeitung suggests a large majority of Swiss voters are in favour of a nationwide ban on face covering in public. Around 76% approve of the anti-face covering initiative launched by the group, known as the Egerkingen committee. The group, which presented […]
Switzerland has more job vacancies than jobseekers
Speaking to Tages-Anzeiger, Cornel Müller, director of marketing at x28, Switzerland’s largest job search aggregator, said there was a large jump in the number of jobs available in Switzerland compared to one year ago. At the end of 2017, 178,000 vacant posts were advertised, 22,000 more than at the end of 2016. The meta search […]
Zermatt accessible again
According to the company Mattherhorn Gotthard Bahn the first trains connecting Zermatt with Täsch started running this afternoon at 17:15 after two days of closure. Trains from Täsch to Visp are expected to open tomorrow. Until then a replacement bus service will operate. Road access to the Saas valley has also been restored. The Gornergrat […]
Swiss courts wrong on minaret ban speech case, rules european court
On 9 January 2018, the European Court of Human Rights decided against a decision by the Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s highest court, and demanded the Swiss government pay 35,000 euros. The case relates to the publication of a speech leading up to the Swiss vote to ban the construction of minarets in 2009. On 5 November […]
